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39
in order that our witness tnay ever emerge from "the only infallible rule and
standard of faith and practice."
We are indebted to Dr. Edgar Carlson, President of Gustavus Adolphus
College, and Dr. Emeroy Johnson, Secretary of our Conference, who by proper
directive, have prepared an excellent syllabus for study and discussion as we
approach the observance of our centennial next year. The implications were
interestingly and ably submitted by Dr. Carlson at our Pastoral Conference last
fall. Subsequently further presentations and discussions were conducted during
sessions of caravan seminars at the College, with many of our pastors present.
It ' is hoped that additional attention will be given these theses by Pastors and
others in our Districts and congregations during the year. In order that this
meaningful and significant set of propositions may become a part of our official
minutes, I am including it herewith in this report:
"At the threshold of our second century as a Conference we face a world
in which there are tensions, uncertainty, and unrest. We face the fact that
there is rising opposition to Christianity. It is a world in which there are new
and grave dangers but also new and unusual opportunities.
"We face the future in the light of present knowledge and past experience,
but we have a sense of inadequacy in trying to make this our starting point
for an understanding of our needs, our responsibilities, and our hopes. As
Christians we face the future with faith because THE WORD OF GOD IS
AMONG US.
"To enable us to set forth to our communities, our nation, and our world
the meaning and power of God's Word in our time we feel constrained to study
these six propositions:
"THE WORD OF GOD IS AMONG US -
"1. To confront sinful man with a God who is holiness and love.
"2. To build up the church 'which is the body of Christ.
"3. To foster freedom and unity in the church and among all men.
"4. "ro challenge, guide, and enlighten all teachers of adults, youth, and
children.
"5. To motivate men to be merciful.
"6. •ro better our civic and social life."
II. OUR PARISHES AND PARISH\ PASTORS
1. A General Statement.
Our Conference is fortunate in the dedicated men who compose its clerical
register. For the most part, Pastoral Reports are prepared conscientiously and,
in the majority of cases, submitted promptly. It is regrettable that adequate time
is unavailable to make as detailed a study and analysis of these reports as is
desired. However, sufficient time has been given a general survey to indicate
that the spiritual life of our congregations is uniformly encouraging. Attendance
at the hours of worship, appreciation for the holy sacraments, a sense of respon­sibility
and privilege with respect to the spiritual opportunities of the individual
and the congregation, parish education, youth work, evangelism, missions, steward­ship
and co-operation b'etween members, boards and pastors seem to be illustra­tive
of sincere and prayerful interest in, and concern for, the extension of the
Kingdom. This is not to suggest that selfish insistence on individual viewpoints,
covetousness, the absence of humility, the absence of the spirit of forgiveness
and the absence of the spirit of love, together with the presence of the spirit
of the world have not in individual instances wounded the body of Christ. For

39
in order that our witness tnay ever emerge from "the only infallible rule and
standard of faith and practice."
We are indebted to Dr. Edgar Carlson, President of Gustavus Adolphus
College, and Dr. Emeroy Johnson, Secretary of our Conference, who by proper
directive, have prepared an excellent syllabus for study and discussion as we
approach the observance of our centennial next year. The implications were
interestingly and ably submitted by Dr. Carlson at our Pastoral Conference last
fall. Subsequently further presentations and discussions were conducted during
sessions of caravan seminars at the College, with many of our pastors present.
It ' is hoped that additional attention will be given these theses by Pastors and
others in our Districts and congregations during the year. In order that this
meaningful and significant set of propositions may become a part of our official
minutes, I am including it herewith in this report:
"At the threshold of our second century as a Conference we face a world
in which there are tensions, uncertainty, and unrest. We face the fact that
there is rising opposition to Christianity. It is a world in which there are new
and grave dangers but also new and unusual opportunities.
"We face the future in the light of present knowledge and past experience,
but we have a sense of inadequacy in trying to make this our starting point
for an understanding of our needs, our responsibilities, and our hopes. As
Christians we face the future with faith because THE WORD OF GOD IS
AMONG US.
"To enable us to set forth to our communities, our nation, and our world
the meaning and power of God's Word in our time we feel constrained to study
these six propositions:
"THE WORD OF GOD IS AMONG US -
"1. To confront sinful man with a God who is holiness and love.
"2. To build up the church 'which is the body of Christ.
"3. To foster freedom and unity in the church and among all men.
"4. "ro challenge, guide, and enlighten all teachers of adults, youth, and
children.
"5. To motivate men to be merciful.
"6. •ro better our civic and social life."
II. OUR PARISHES AND PARISH\ PASTORS
1. A General Statement.
Our Conference is fortunate in the dedicated men who compose its clerical
register. For the most part, Pastoral Reports are prepared conscientiously and,
in the majority of cases, submitted promptly. It is regrettable that adequate time
is unavailable to make as detailed a study and analysis of these reports as is
desired. However, sufficient time has been given a general survey to indicate
that the spiritual life of our congregations is uniformly encouraging. Attendance
at the hours of worship, appreciation for the holy sacraments, a sense of respon­sibility
and privilege with respect to the spiritual opportunities of the individual
and the congregation, parish education, youth work, evangelism, missions, steward­ship
and co-operation b'etween members, boards and pastors seem to be illustra­tive
of sincere and prayerful interest in, and concern for, the extension of the
Kingdom. This is not to suggest that selfish insistence on individual viewpoints,
covetousness, the absence of humility, the absence of the spirit of forgiveness
and the absence of the spirit of love, together with the presence of the spirit
of the world have not in individual instances wounded the body of Christ. For